10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT PROM

A high school senior helps her best friend ask the most popular girl in school to prom.

Eighteen-year-old Ivelisse Santos is angsty about her future. Mami wants her to stay close to home by attending Rutgers, and she doesn’t want to disappoint her, but Ivelisse’s heart is set on going to Sarah Lawrence to study theater and then become a set designer. Ivelisse misses spending quality time with her single mom, an industrious nurse who works night shifts and has recently begun spending every free moment dating new men. Luckily, she can always count on Joaquin Romero, the boy next door and her best friend. They share everything, from a pet dog to a love of slushies, and are always there for each other. (Ivelisse hasn’t seen her dad in 10 years, and Joaquin’s mom moved back to Puerto Rico to help his ailing grandmother.) But then Joaquin returns home from spring break with a major crush on Tessa Hernandez, a cheerleader known for breaking hearts whom Ivelisse strongly dislikes. Joaquin begs Ivelisse to help him plan the ultimate promposal, and as she helps him woo Tessa, she must confront whether she truly wants to protect Joaquin from rejection, is afraid of losing their friendship, or has been in love with him all along. The story meanders in places, but the central duo’s long friendship is sweetly fleshed out, and their characterization will win readers over.

A cute love story.